ome hither in haste, O King; nay, I doubted much, while I
was yet on the way, whether I should not turn again. For now I thought,
'Fool, why goest thou where thou shalt suffer for it'; and then, again,
'Fool, the king will hear the matter elsewhere, and then how wilt thou
fare?' But at the last I came as I had purposed, for I know that nothing
may happen to me contrary to fate."

"But say," said the king, "what troubles thee so much?"

"First hear my case. I did not the thing and know not who did it, and it
were a grievous wrong should I fall into trouble for such a cause."

"Thou makest a long preface, excusing thyself, but yet hast, as I judge,
something to tell."

"Fear, my lord, ever causeth delay."

"Wilt thou not speak out thy news and then begone?"

"I will speak it. Know then that some man hath thrown dust upon this
dead corpse, and done besides such things as are needful."

"What sayest thou? Who hath dared to do this deed?"

"That I know not, for there was no mark as of spade or pick-axe; nor was
the earth broken, nor had wagon passed thereon. We were sore dismayed
when the watchman showed the thing to us; for the body we could not see.
Buried indeed it was not, but rather covered with dust. Nor was there
any sign as of wild beast or of dog that had torn it. Then there arose a
contention among us, each blaming the other, and accusing his fellows,
and himself denying that he had done the deed or was privy to it. And
doubtless we had fallen to blows but that one spake a word which made us
all tremble for fear, knowing that it must be as he said. For he said
that the thing must be told to thee, and in no wise hidden. So we drew
lots, and by evil chance the lot fell upon me. Wherefore I am here, not
willingly, for no man loveth him that bringeth evil tidings."

Then said the chief of the old men:

"Consider, O King, for haply this thing is from the gods."

But the king cried:

"Thinkest thou that the gods care for such an one as this dead man, who
would have burnt their temples with fire, and laid waste the land which
they love; and set at naught the laws? Not so. But there are men in this
city who have long time had ill will to me, not bowing their necks to my
yoke; and they have persuaded these fellows with money to do this thing.
Surely there never was so evil a thing as money, which maketh cities
into ruinous heaps and banisheth men from their houses and turneth their
thoughts from good unto evil.